Well, I have been working hard as always and hence, haven’t been around much. 
However, I wanted to inform (or should I say admit? Haha) to my fastlane buddies a small pit-stop I took on my merge towards the fastlane!
As some of you know, 2 years ago I made a decision that would jump-start a big change in my life. Feeling stressed over debt and with little money saved up in order to do anything, I decided to sell my beloved sports car (a very modified Trans Am that I had owned since college), and use the money to make some changes in my life. I quickly paid off all my debt, put 10k into the stock market, and used some remaining money to finance the purchase of my first investment property.
Since then, I am proud to say that a few smart “steps†have completely changed my course for the better, and I am now almost debt free (aside from real-estate of course, lol), have a solid portfolio of investments (including my first 2 properties which I still own), as well as a very secure job that I am fortunate to have been promoted at several times (hard work pays off!!!). I am also FAR more educated then I was fresh out of college, and as I have said on here many times, I now KNOW what I want out of life!
However, the one downside to selling that car, is that although it did indeed in a way “jump-start†my life and moves towards the fastlane, is that I have been “bored†since. I am one of the guys on the board who just LOVES to drive. My sports cars (whether it was my first Mustang GT back in HS or my corvette and Trans am in college) have always been kind of an escapes for me. I used to love driving at night simply because it was a way to break free of everything for an hour, and just row through some gears down an open highway at night. Some people like to play solitaire online, others like to run or go mountain biking. For me, it has always been cars.
That being said, an extremely thought-provoking conversation with an older friend of mine one night changed my perspective on things a lot, and although I am still 100% for the principles of the fastlane that MJ and so many others have taught me, I also began to realize that I am also not getting any younger. Without boring you all with the details of that conversation, the basic thought process behind my friend’s advice was that although it is important to set a goal and drive towards it with 100% conviction, time and the world around you does not sit around and wait for you to reach that goal. Without taking time to “smell the roses†once and a while and reward yourself a little for your hard-work, life can pass you by before you know it (which is coincidentally, EXACTLY what MJ and our other mentors have taught us when they say that living in the fastlane does not mean enjoying the benefits of your 401k at 65 years old when your whole body begins slowing down on you. It is about living the life you dream NOW and accomplishing your goals NOW, because tomorrow (and the value of your portfolio at retirement someday) is not guaranteed!
The more I listened to him, the more I thought about how I have not taken a vacation in 4 years now, about how I had sold ALL of my toys in the last few years in order to fund different investments/projects (my sports car, 2 motorcycles, etc.), how hard I have worked to stay out of debt, build my credit score, my savings account, etc., and I decided it was time for a small reward.
Well, after doing some research, I made the decision to take a “small†withdrawal from my saving account, and to buy something I have wanted since I was a little kid. Furthering this idea was that almost like fate, a deal popped up from a friend of mine that was just bar-none too good to pass up. So, after a lot of thought and anaylsis, I am proud to say that I am now the owner of a beautiful 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10.
Anyways, as I do value the opinion of my friends and others on this board who have helped me so much in the last year(s), I wanted to explain the purchase and the thought process behind it, and to ensure you that I have not in ANY way detoured off the fast-lane, but in actuality, have just taken a small pit-stop in order to enjoy the scenery. (I don’t want MJ or any of the other pros here thinking their student had been led astray!!!)
Thank you as always guys
However, I wanted to inform (or should I say admit? Haha) to my fastlane buddies a small pit-stop I took on my merge towards the fastlane!As some of you know, 2 years ago I made a decision that would jump-start a big change in my life. Feeling stressed over debt and with little money saved up in order to do anything, I decided to sell my beloved sports car (a very modified Trans Am that I had owned since college), and use the money to make some changes in my life. I quickly paid off all my debt, put 10k into the stock market, and used some remaining money to finance the purchase of my first investment property.
Since then, I am proud to say that a few smart “steps†have completely changed my course for the better, and I am now almost debt free (aside from real-estate of course, lol), have a solid portfolio of investments (including my first 2 properties which I still own), as well as a very secure job that I am fortunate to have been promoted at several times (hard work pays off!!!). I am also FAR more educated then I was fresh out of college, and as I have said on here many times, I now KNOW what I want out of life!
However, the one downside to selling that car, is that although it did indeed in a way “jump-start†my life and moves towards the fastlane, is that I have been “bored†since. I am one of the guys on the board who just LOVES to drive. My sports cars (whether it was my first Mustang GT back in HS or my corvette and Trans am in college) have always been kind of an escapes for me. I used to love driving at night simply because it was a way to break free of everything for an hour, and just row through some gears down an open highway at night. Some people like to play solitaire online, others like to run or go mountain biking. For me, it has always been cars.
That being said, an extremely thought-provoking conversation with an older friend of mine one night changed my perspective on things a lot, and although I am still 100% for the principles of the fastlane that MJ and so many others have taught me, I also began to realize that I am also not getting any younger. Without boring you all with the details of that conversation, the basic thought process behind my friend’s advice was that although it is important to set a goal and drive towards it with 100% conviction, time and the world around you does not sit around and wait for you to reach that goal. Without taking time to “smell the roses†once and a while and reward yourself a little for your hard-work, life can pass you by before you know it (which is coincidentally, EXACTLY what MJ and our other mentors have taught us when they say that living in the fastlane does not mean enjoying the benefits of your 401k at 65 years old when your whole body begins slowing down on you. It is about living the life you dream NOW and accomplishing your goals NOW, because tomorrow (and the value of your portfolio at retirement someday) is not guaranteed!
The more I listened to him, the more I thought about how I have not taken a vacation in 4 years now, about how I had sold ALL of my toys in the last few years in order to fund different investments/projects (my sports car, 2 motorcycles, etc.), how hard I have worked to stay out of debt, build my credit score, my savings account, etc., and I decided it was time for a small reward.
Well, after doing some research, I made the decision to take a “small†withdrawal from my saving account, and to buy something I have wanted since I was a little kid. Furthering this idea was that almost like fate, a deal popped up from a friend of mine that was just bar-none too good to pass up. So, after a lot of thought and anaylsis, I am proud to say that I am now the owner of a beautiful 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10.
Anyways, as I do value the opinion of my friends and others on this board who have helped me so much in the last year(s), I wanted to explain the purchase and the thought process behind it, and to ensure you that I have not in ANY way detoured off the fast-lane, but in actuality, have just taken a small pit-stop in order to enjoy the scenery. (I don’t want MJ or any of the other pros here thinking their student had been led astray!!!)
Thank you as always guys
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
